New Tottenham signing Kieran Trippier says he had to get out of Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur summer signing Kieran Trippier says he has no regrets over leaving Manchester City early in his career.

Trippier began with City's academy at just nine-years-old, but a lack of first team opportunities saw him quit the club at the age of 21.

He had been loaned out to Burnley and decided to make the move permanent in 2012, with his performances seeing him regarded as one of the Championship's best full-backs.

After helping them earn promotion and then impressing in the Premier League, he moved to Tottenham in the summer, and believes at 24-years-old, his decision to leave City has been vindicated.

He told The Guardian: "I had just signed a four-year deal at City but I said to him (Burnley boss at the time Eddie Howe: ‘Yeah, just try and get me out.’

"When I went to Burnley, I said I wanted to get promoted to the Premier League and we did that. Now, I am back here with Tottenham.

"As soon as Tottenham came in for me, I wanted to sign. Maybe I could have gone somewhere else with less competition but me and Kyle (Walker) are good mates, and we are both trying our best to get that position."

Trippier concedes it was never going to work out for him at City, with the investment into the club at the time counting against him.

Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards were in front of him at the time, and last summer City added Bacary Sagna into the mix.

The right-back is going to find it tough to dislodge an in form Kyle Walker from the Spurs side, but is picking up games and experience in the Europa League - and if he can force his rival out of the side, an England place could be an added bonus as a reward should Roy Hodgson take notice.

Dan Coombs

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